Pages

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Computer/Internet Policy

Computer/Internet
Policy

Approved
by the Board of Trustees

Odon
Winkelpleck Public Library

June
12, 2003

(Revised
8/15/2013; Reviewed 8/14/2014)

Computers
supporting the Library Mission: The Odon Winkelpleck Public
Library seeks toexpand the
horizons of the North Daviess Community by providing literary,
cultural, and informational resources to all. Computers play
an important role in research and recreational reading in today’s
world. They provide free access to information sources that are not
within the scope of the library’s budget. Sharing access costs
among the taxpayers of the community to provide equal access to all
community members furthers the library’s mission in the community.
Therefore, the library seeks to provide free computer and internet
access to patrons.

Who may use
the computers: Computer access is offered to all library
visitors. Patrons under 18 must have a parental consent form on file
in order to access the internet. Young children must demonstrate
computer competency and respect for the computer equipment in order
to have access to local games and software. Because the library’s
computer resources are not unlimited, sign-up sheets are maintained
in order to provide access to as many people as possible. All users
must sign a computer-use agreement, stating that they will use the
computers in accordance with the regulations set forth in this
document. Exceptions for out-of-town visitors checking e-mail may be
made at the discretion of the library staff.

Regulations
for general computer use:

1. Patrons are
expected to use the computers in a manner that does not disturb those
around them and does not damage the computers in any way. Patrons
using the computers and the parents
or guardians of users under the age of eighteen will be
responsible to the library for any damage caused to the computer
equipment through deliberate destruction or misuse of the computers.

2. Patrons
should have basic computer skills. (Ask about computer training at
the circulation desk.)

3. Modifications
to the computer (downloading new programs, changing the wallpaper,
adding or deleting icons) are not allowed and may result in
suspension of computer privileges. Any downloads or user files must
be saved to user-owned storage devices rather than the library hard
drives unless specific exceptions have been made by the library
staff.

4. No more than
two persons may use a computer together.

5. Computers
left unattended for more than ten (10) minutes will be available to
other users.

6. Printing is
available for a fee. Color printing is also available by request.

7. Library
computer resources should not be used for unethical or illegal
activity, such as accessing the accounts of others, interfering with
the free flow of internet information, sending “hate mail,” or
violating copyright or other laws.

Regulations
for internet access:

Patrons
under 18 must have a parental consent form on file at the library to
access the internet.

In keeping
with the public nature of the library computers, all sites viewed
should be appropriate for all ages. Filtering is installed on the
computers, however no filtering system is perfect. Patrons accessing
objectionable sites may lose their computer privileges. In the event
that the filtering system on the library computers is blocking
legitimate sites, it can be temporarily disabled at the discretion
of the library staff.

Creating an
e-mail account is the responsibility of the individual user through
web-based services such as Yahoo, Hotmail, or Google. The library
does not provide e-mail accounts for public users.

5. Patrons should be aware that the internet is a world of
its own, totally beyond the control of the library. Information found
there may be valuable or useless, accurate or erroneous, objective or
strongly biased to the point of being offensive. What looks like
well-researched information may be cleverly-disguised marketing. The
library takes no responsibility for the quality of information found
on the internet. Patrons are encouraged to be good information
consumers, carefully evaluating the validity of the websites they
visit.

Consequences
for abusive conduct or violating the terms of this policy:

The library is
the sole arbiter of what constitutes abusive conduct or violation of
its policies.

1. First offense
will result in a warning and a reminder of the computer policy.

2. Second
offense will result in a [1]one-month
suspension of computer privileges.

3. Third offense
will result in six months or more suspension of computer privileges,
at the discretion of the library staff.